Turkey voices support for Iran nuclear programme

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday voiced his country's unwavering support for Tehran's nuclear ambitions in a meeting with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to an official statement. "The government and nation of Turkey has always clearly supported the nuclear positions of the Islamic republic of Iran, and will continue to firmly follow the same policy in the future," Erdogan was quoted as saying in the statement issued by Ahmadinejad's office. Ahmadinejad thanked Turkey for its "clear and frank" stance on the issue, the statement added. The exchange occurred on the last day of a two-day visit Erdogan was making to Iran to discuss the nuclear issue and bilateral ties. The Turkish prime minister was to hold talks later Thursday with Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, before flying home. Iran on Wednesday announced that long-st...